Guided Daily Prayer (Series 2)

December 10, 2023
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Instructions: The underlined text are headings and do not need to be read. [Brackets] are instructions to be followed but not necessarily read. FOR INDIVIDUAL PRAYER: I suggest you read the prayer sheet aloud, but reading silently is fine too. FOR GROUP PRAYER: have one person act as leader. The leader reads the regular print and everyone reads the Bold Italic Type together.

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Second Sunday of Advent ● Guided Daily Prayer

Opening Sentences:

 The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him. (Habakkuk 2:20)

Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP,1979)

Praying Together:
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Be joyful in the Lord, all you lands;
serve the Lord with gladness and come before his presence with a song. (from Psalm 100)

Prayers of Confession

[If the Guide is used in group prayer, the leader begins by saying “Come, let us offer our confession and seek God’s forgiveness together.”]

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.  (BCP,1979)

Words of Assurance:
Sisters and Brothers, be assured that, when we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and forgives our sins, cleansing us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

Scripture Reading Based on Mark 1:1-8:

¹The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. ²As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,

“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way;
³the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,’”

⁴John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. ⁶Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. ⁷He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. ⁸I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

[Silent Prayer / or Music may be listened to / or a Hymn is sung.]

Prayers of the People:

“With all our heart and with all our mind, let us pray to the Lord, saying “O Lord, hear our prayer.”

For leaders of nations, that they rule with wisdom, justice and mercy. Let us pray to the Lord. O Lord, hear our prayer. [Silent prayer.] *

We pray comfort for all families who have lost loved ones, that they may know your loving and merciful presence, let us pray to the Lord. O Lord, hear our prayer. [Silent prayer.]

Bring reconciliation where there is conflict, and heal where there is hurt. Let us pray to the Lord. O Lord, hear our prayer. [Silent prayer.] *

Lead us to deeper faith as we walk in the light of your Word. Let us pray to the Lord. O Lord, hear our prayer. [Silent prayer.] *

For our individual and special prayers this day, we lift them up to the Lord. [Silent Prayer]

The Lord’s Prayer:

“Hear us, O Lord, as we pray together:”

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Closing Prayer:
God of hope and restoration, lead us out of the wilderness of sin and guide us on the path to Your salvation. As we journey through Advent, comfort us with the promise of Your Son’s coming and the joy of Your eternal peace. Amen. (based on RCL Prayers)